Its development included more than 20,000 hours of research which Logitech says resulted in the central feature of a 5.6 cm colour touch-screen.

This uses capacitive technology, which responds to tiny electrical charges from the fingertips, and provides control of any home entertainment device with an infrared receiver, including digital video recorders, high-definition televisions and many household appliances.

The Harmony One remote’s touch screen can display icons of specified TV stations for quick access to favourite stations.

Logitech has also changed the button layout, now offering four distinct zones (numbers; traditional DVD controls; D-pad with volume and channel up/down; and on-screen menu buttons).

The Harmony One inherits its one-touch activity-based control system from its predecessors, which Logitech claims is powered by the world’s largest A/V-control database of entertainment equipment, guided online setup and sophisticated telephone support.

To watch a DVD, for example, users can touch the "Watch a DVD" option on the touch screen, and the remote then turns on the TV, the DVD player, and the A/V receiver.

The Harmony One will be available in the US and Europe in February for around £169.99.

Logitech adds that the Harmony One has already been given the CES 2008 Design and Engineering Award: Best of Innovations in Home-Entertainment Accessories.